Experiment #:9

Date: 3/20/16
Title: To investigate reactions of organic compounds
Background Information:
Materials and Apparatus: Test tube, test tube rack , test tube holder , Bunsen burner
, tripod stand , wire gauze , water bath , magnesium , sodium carbonate (Na 2CO3) ,
Aqueous Bromine (Br(aq)) , acidified potassium magnate (KMnO4) (V11) , 2,4dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) , iodine , sodium hydroxide (NaOH) , calcium
hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) , splint , syringe , dropper , distilled water , acid ,acetone ,
alcohol
Procedure:
1. To about 1cm3 of each compound , aqueous bromine was added.
2. To about 3cm3 of each compound , an equal amount of potassium manganate
was added to the compound
3. To 1cm3 of each compound , an equal compound , an equal volume of 2,4
DNPH was added
4. An equal volume of Benedicts solution was added to 1cm 3 of each compound
5. To about 1cm3 of each compound , an equal amount of iodine followed by
sodium hydroxide
6. To about 1cm3 of each compound , a small piece of magnesium was added
7. A small amount of sodium carbonate was added to 1cm 3 of each compound
Data Table:
Test
1
2
3

Acetone
No change
No visible change
Milky yellow ppt

Acid
No change
No visible change
No visible change

No reaction

Blue suspension

Pale yellow ppt

Pale yellow ppt

Alcohol
No change
No visible change
Dark yellow
solution
Immiscible , no
reaction
Decolorizes ,
antiseptic smell
No visible change

No visible reaction

Slightly soluble

No visible change

Effervescence ,
metal decolorized
Effervescence ,
carbonate
dissolved

4
5

Discussion: The aim of the experiment was to investigate the reactions of organic
compounds. Firstly, the organic compounds were reacted with aqueous bromine .

The alcohol , acid and alcohol did not react with the bromine as it is saturated and
hence have no free electrons to bond with the bromine , therefore no reaction
occurs . This was expected because Br (aq) cannot interact with Carbon to Oxygen
double bonds just Carbon to Caron double bonds . Secondly , compounds were
reacted with KMnO4 . The alcohol was not oxidized therefore indicated that the
alcohol was a tertiary alcohol , which is a alcohol containing three (3) alkyl groups ,
which is very stable and hence does not undergo oxidation . The acetone and acid
showed no visible change . The compounds were then reacted with 2,4-DNPA . The
alcohol , acetone reacted with reagent . The reaction with the alcohol was
unexpected alcohol do not usually react with DNPH .
2-4 DNPH usually reacts with carbonyl compounds to form an orange ppt in a
condensation reaction to form a complex phenyl compound. Therefore , the colour
change noted from the reaction with the acetone was unexpected .
The compounds were then reacted with Benedicts solution . It was observed that
only the Acetone reacted with this solution . Usually , acetone are unaffected by
Benedicts solution . The compounds were then reacted iodine . The alcohol , acid
and acetone reacted with the reagent . The reaction with the alcohol usually doesnt
occur unless the alcohol is ethanol or a secondary alcohol which contains a r group ,
hydroxyl group and a hydrogen bond to it. There is no such carbon in alcohols .
Usually a pale yellow solution is formed to indicate the presence of the iodoform ,
however , only the antiseptic smell was given off . The pale yellow solution noted
when reacted with acetone was expected as iodoform is usually formed when the
reagents are reacted with these compounds . The reaction of the acid with the
reagent was unexpected as acids do not usually react to form iodoform . The
compounds were then reacted with a small piece of magnesium . Acid reacted with
the magnesium strip. The reaction between the magnesium and the acid was
expected as acids usually undergo reactions with metals to form the salt of the
metal and water . In the reaction with Na 2CO3 , only the alcohol and acid reacted. It
was expected that the acid reacted in the way it did , as acids react with he
compound to form carbon dioxide . The slight solublility of the compound in alcohol
is expected as it is a regular occurrence with alcohols and Na 2CO3 . Some reactions
occurred which should not have occurred based on theory . The strange occurrences
of the results obtained might be due to mainly the contamination of the reagents ,
also as many of the compounds are colourless , compounds might have been
switched and identified as other compounds , which might be the case for a few of
the reactions observed.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the reactions of various organic compounds
could have been investigated